Although Reid had initially intended to begin work on an omnibus spending bill after the tax vote, he is now pushing it off until late Thursday in the face of stiff GOP opposition. Republicans have threatened to filibuster the omnibus, and DeMint said Tuesday that he would force a reading of the bill on the floor, a process that could take 60 to 70 hours, a Reid aide said.

Reid could begin debate on the omnibus bill before Thursday, because Senate rules allow debate on the arms reduction treaty with Russia and the omnibus to occur simultaneously.

However, by delaying the start of the omnibus debate until late Thursday, Reid appears to be trying to box Republican opponents into either voting for the measure Saturday, when the current continuing resolution funding the government will expire, or shut down the government by filibustering the bill.

DeMint warnedNational Review Online on Monday about Reid’s potential maneuver. “Sounds like they want to dual-track [the START treaty] with the terrible omnibus bill,” he said. “I’m really concerned . . . . I’m not going to be sleeping very well this week.”

Wesley Denton, a DeMint spokesman, tells NRO that despite pressure from Reid, the South Carolinian plans to read aloud the omnibus bill, for as long as it takes. He will point out that the Senate could easily pass a continuing resolution sans pork-laden projects.

“This 2,000-page bill is so packed with pork and objectionable legislative items it could take weeks until we know the policy implications, but Reid wants to ram it through in a few days,” Denton says. “This stampede of spending and bad policy is exactly what voters rejected in November. Senator DeMint will continue working with Republican colleagues to expose the bill’s waste and he’ll fight to stop the rush to pass it on the Senate floor.”

This must be stopped. The Marxist are going for everything, aided by some lameduck, corrupt RINOS along with some corrupt RINO incumbents we’re still stuck with by the names of Cochrane of Mississippi and Susan Collins of Maine to cite two.

I heard McCain reading off a list of the projects that had been included for various states. Some of them even sounded reasonable. However, they should not be snuck into some other bill. There should be a specific bill called something like “Special Local Projects”. Since each House member has roughly the same number of constituents, then each member should be assigned the same amount of dollars. Then they can decide how much to allocate for the various projects their constituents ask for. We should analyze how many dollars for each of, lets say the past 4 years, has been used for “pork” add-ons to other bills, then average it, reduce it by 20%, and divide that figure by the number of House members.

Then that would be their allowance for “Special Local Projects.” This would be a tax reduction of 20% and a fair distribution to all members for the use of their constituents. There should be a pledge not to include “pork” in any other bills, with strong party discipline.

I have an interesting question some of our more enlightened Freepers who might be more informed as to Senatorial Rules may be able to answer is this:

"Dingy" Harry is threatening to keep the Senate in session up to January 4th if necessary, right?

What would happen (and I KNOW the ever condescending, conciliatory, wuss, McConnell would never even consider same) if he suddenly grew a pair and ordered all Republicans to simply refuse to stay after, say, after the 18th, or come back no matter what Reid "orders?"

After all, Reid is not a Dictator and the Senate is a deliberative body and the Senators are responsible and answer to their constituents, so what could he do? Fire them?

Then if the Demo-Rats go thru with passage of any legislation, I believe they would have doomed their party forever, so what's the downside?

12
posted on 12/15/2010 3:12:46 AM PST
by Conservative Vermont Vet
((One of ONLY 37 Conservatives in the People's Republic of Vermont. Socialists and Progressives All))

Just watched Fox and Friends play a clip of Sen McCain speaking from the floor in the senate. Say what you want about McCain but he was dead on in this case. He blasted the bill for ridiculous spending and asked if anyone paid attention to the last election. He was livid. It was nice to see.

I heard McCain’s recitation of the spending. I disagree, none of them were remotely reasonable. They were, for the most part, payoffs to universities for bogus research. If those assholes want to do research, they can do it on their own dime, not mine.

Reid is fighting the last war...the pre-TEA Party war. This is a major error on his part.

The RATS and RINOS cannot accept the fact that the TEA Party is a major game changer and the American People are now committed and engaged in the political fight. What worked before ObamaCare will no longer work today.

Cochran’s office is going to voicemail. Wicker’s office said he will now vote against it after hearing from the people, which means it could still pass. These Magnolia State senators need to hear from the Tea Party!!!!

My point is that some communities believe their tax dollars should be spent on these items. Thus I believe that each Congressman should have a right to his proportional share of a total amount that would be, let’s say 20%, less than is currently being spent on earmarks, and then let their constituents hold them accountable for what they choose to spend it for.

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